We are incredibly powerful people. You, me, every reader of this post.
But it is easy for me to slide into a mindset of powerlessness. Yet no matter which Big Party controls the levers in Washington, we retain great freedom and choice with how we live and show up.
I'm challenged to use this season as an opportunity to lean into those areas that can never be legislated away from me: how I treat others, the inner sanctum of my mind, creative pursuits, the use of my voice.
Right now I'm trying to "publish one true thing every day." Mostly on social media. I'd realize that I've been self-censoring and gatekeeping and that I needed to be courageous and authentic in small spaces first.
Also, the day after the election, another idea surfaced: to do one kind thing every day. No one can ever take that away from me!
I love this post. Definitely going through the same stages of grief. I'm alternately avoiding the news because I don't want to deal with it, and then binging on it and wallowing.
Lord of the Rings is one of my comforting coping mechanisms, too, and I have those same extended edition DVDs! I haven't ever upgraded to the blurays because they don't have the special features, last I looked into it. Watching those hours and hours of BTS footage as a kid is what got me interested in visual effects / digital art. Those are some of the best movies ever, and all of the love and care that went into them is insane <3
Other comfort watches: We've been re-watching The Office, and will probably do the same with Parks and Rec sometime in the next 4 years...
And not necessarily a comfort read but I find having more information to be comforting in a way: What's Our Problem by Tim Urban (the Wait Buy Why guy) was an incredible read. He has a way of breaking down complex topics into more digestible bites, and he spent 6 years digging into why our country is so divided. I didn't agree with all of it, but it did shift my thinking in some interesting ways that have stuck with me a full year after finishing it. I'd highly recommend it but it's digital only, unfortunately, and is pretty long (partially because of all of the illustrations).
I am fully avoiding the news. It's all just too depressing and I don't know what to do (at least at the moment).
I've wanted these DVDs for SO LONG and I had a friend recently find them at an estate sale and I was fortunate enough to lay claim on them before her other nerd friends did (she has her own already). So this is my NEWEST TREASURE... my precioussssss...
We just rewatched P&R! Excellent comfort show.
Mat won't watch The Office with me because he thinks Michael Scott is too cringey, but I will always love that show.
Oh I am super curious about this book you mention! I'd love to read this. Looks like it's only a year old too?? That's cool! I've been in a reading stint for a while now so I'm cool with it being long! As long as it's interesting, which it sounds like it is.
Thanks for sharing, Ben! I hope you guys are doing okay. <3
Omg we've been cringing so much at The Office, and some of it didn't age very well, but it's still so good. We've had to take a couple of breaks but the characters keep us coming back.
And yeah, What's Our Problem is very readable despite the length! He has a great sense of humor that keeps it from getting too heavy, and his metaphors and dumb illustrations are on point. Let me know what you think if you end up giving it a shot!
"isn't it a pity...isn't it a shame...." whatever gets us through the night and the many ahead i feel the same way when bad things happen like somehow i am to blame and theres gonna be hell to pay the guilt and self loathing but take heart in that we are not alone in this and equally focussed on a better future for all that we love
inwardly smiled at the "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" drawing bet that was therapeutic heeeee
I relate so much to what you’re feeling. Thanks for the sound advice. I’ve had some time to process this because I worked the polls for four days and saw how many people wanted to to vote for Trump. I live in LA, and I was working in the middle of East Hollywood/Silverlake and was really baffled by the amount of voters coming with a mission to save America. I was like, if this is happening here, I can’t imagine what is happening in middle America.
The crazy thing was that all these people coming in to vote for Trump were part of the Latino block that Trump was attacking? WTF???? I speak Spanish so I was helping a lot of Latino Voters and every time I would explain the props and Measures on the ballot, they would vote for the social issues until the presidential candidate came up and they would proceed to tell me that I need to vote for Trump….
Crazy right? It’s complex, I know but I think people want do the right thing, but they are getting the same information we are. That’s what I’m focusing my effort on, how can I bridge that divide? And that brings me back to what you’re saying. Compassion, empathy, kindness. Start there and let the heart lead.
For better or worse, this is another chapter in Democracy book of our country and maybe this is what needs to happen so a lot of people learn how to spot a populist Autocrat that only tell’s you what you think you want to hear and not the truth. The truth is that there’s no shortcut. We have to put in the work and people need to learn that, democracy only works if we participate. Let’s hope these next four years motivates a lot of people to participate more in shaping our democracy.
Wow, that must have been so disconcerting to witness as a poll worker in L.A.
I still think that's so cool that you did that volunteer work, I really want to do it next time myself, it sounds very empowering.
How do you become a poll worker btw? Is there a form online or something?
I also believe the majority of people are good (or strive to be good, or want to believe they're good).
I love that you're focusing on how to bridge the divide between Americans. That's both beautiful and exactly what we need.
I very much believe that the vast majority of Americans actually want the same things-- we're just intentionally divided to disempower and confuse us about what we're arguing about.
It's sad, but typical.
I very much want to participate in democracy more. I really want to take action in some sustainable way. Still searching on that front.
Recently I listened to the entire Beatles catalog (of studio albums) starting in chronological order — 13 albums, 230+ songs, eight years — amazing! To my surprise, I love those early albums so much. Please Please Me is just gold.
I always assumed I knew all their songs, but I think I've missed some of the early songs.
Paul McCartney played "Please Please Me" live somewhere quite recently!
I never knew this was what the song was called btw, haha.
It's weird to listen to this song after not hearing it since I was a kid because I feel like I hear so many of their influences now in a way I didn't have context for in the past.
Like I hear the Chuck Berry and surfer rock.. probably more if I focused harder.
Most of my Beatles listening had been later stuff. So some great discoveries. From that first album alone (Please Please Me), these are some favorite delights:
Thank you for the uplifting thoughts about how to process disappointment.
"If You Feel Like Garbage, That’s OK, But Don’t Treat Yourself Like Garbage." — really good advice.
Thank YOU, Matt!
I'm glad I was able to say anything remotely helpful at all!
This shit is a total mindfuck to process, but the one thing that feels empowering to me is just gathering with others in any form.
Sometimes I think isolation is a big factor that lead us here.
But also... who fuckin' knows!
I'd love to hear if you have any thoughts on how you're processing this or ideas on how to move forward.
We are incredibly powerful people. You, me, every reader of this post.
But it is easy for me to slide into a mindset of powerlessness. Yet no matter which Big Party controls the levers in Washington, we retain great freedom and choice with how we live and show up.
I'm challenged to use this season as an opportunity to lean into those areas that can never be legislated away from me: how I treat others, the inner sanctum of my mind, creative pursuits, the use of my voice.
Right now I'm trying to "publish one true thing every day." Mostly on social media. I'd realize that I've been self-censoring and gatekeeping and that I needed to be courageous and authentic in small spaces first.
Also, the day after the election, another idea surfaced: to do one kind thing every day. No one can ever take that away from me!
Aw, this is beautiful, Matt, I love it!
I think my version of this is I'd like to say hi to my neighbors more!
I often worry about how isolated we've all become from one another, which silos us all off into our respective bubbles.
Small steps can lead to bigger things! I believe in us too. <3
I love this post. Definitely going through the same stages of grief. I'm alternately avoiding the news because I don't want to deal with it, and then binging on it and wallowing.
Lord of the Rings is one of my comforting coping mechanisms, too, and I have those same extended edition DVDs! I haven't ever upgraded to the blurays because they don't have the special features, last I looked into it. Watching those hours and hours of BTS footage as a kid is what got me interested in visual effects / digital art. Those are some of the best movies ever, and all of the love and care that went into them is insane <3
Other comfort watches: We've been re-watching The Office, and will probably do the same with Parks and Rec sometime in the next 4 years...
And not necessarily a comfort read but I find having more information to be comforting in a way: What's Our Problem by Tim Urban (the Wait Buy Why guy) was an incredible read. He has a way of breaking down complex topics into more digestible bites, and he spent 6 years digging into why our country is so divided. I didn't agree with all of it, but it did shift my thinking in some interesting ways that have stuck with me a full year after finishing it. I'd highly recommend it but it's digital only, unfortunately, and is pretty long (partially because of all of the illustrations).
I'm so glad (and sad?!) that this resonated, Ben!
I am fully avoiding the news. It's all just too depressing and I don't know what to do (at least at the moment).
I've wanted these DVDs for SO LONG and I had a friend recently find them at an estate sale and I was fortunate enough to lay claim on them before her other nerd friends did (she has her own already). So this is my NEWEST TREASURE... my precioussssss...
We just rewatched P&R! Excellent comfort show.
Mat won't watch The Office with me because he thinks Michael Scott is too cringey, but I will always love that show.
Oh I am super curious about this book you mention! I'd love to read this. Looks like it's only a year old too?? That's cool! I've been in a reading stint for a while now so I'm cool with it being long! As long as it's interesting, which it sounds like it is.
Thanks for sharing, Ben! I hope you guys are doing okay. <3
Omg we've been cringing so much at The Office, and some of it didn't age very well, but it's still so good. We've had to take a couple of breaks but the characters keep us coming back.
And yeah, What's Our Problem is very readable despite the length! He has a great sense of humor that keeps it from getting too heavy, and his metaphors and dumb illustrations are on point. Let me know what you think if you end up giving it a shot!
Yep, garbage is about how I feel.
Yes, this hurts like fucking hell, can't lie.
As writers I do hope this at least inspires us to write words that help others.
OHHHHH TO DREAM!
"isn't it a pity...isn't it a shame...." whatever gets us through the night and the many ahead i feel the same way when bad things happen like somehow i am to blame and theres gonna be hell to pay the guilt and self loathing but take heart in that we are not alone in this and equally focussed on a better future for all that we love
inwardly smiled at the "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" drawing bet that was therapeutic heeeee
Yes, I LOVED drawing the Balrog and "you shall not pass!".
It's nice to get caught up in a moment like that.
I'm going to keep brainstorming on how to move forward.
Inaction is feeling increasing painful by the day. But there is also still much thinkies to do.
TBD!
I relate so much to what you’re feeling. Thanks for the sound advice. I’ve had some time to process this because I worked the polls for four days and saw how many people wanted to to vote for Trump. I live in LA, and I was working in the middle of East Hollywood/Silverlake and was really baffled by the amount of voters coming with a mission to save America. I was like, if this is happening here, I can’t imagine what is happening in middle America.
The crazy thing was that all these people coming in to vote for Trump were part of the Latino block that Trump was attacking? WTF???? I speak Spanish so I was helping a lot of Latino Voters and every time I would explain the props and Measures on the ballot, they would vote for the social issues until the presidential candidate came up and they would proceed to tell me that I need to vote for Trump….
Crazy right? It’s complex, I know but I think people want do the right thing, but they are getting the same information we are. That’s what I’m focusing my effort on, how can I bridge that divide? And that brings me back to what you’re saying. Compassion, empathy, kindness. Start there and let the heart lead.
For better or worse, this is another chapter in Democracy book of our country and maybe this is what needs to happen so a lot of people learn how to spot a populist Autocrat that only tell’s you what you think you want to hear and not the truth. The truth is that there’s no shortcut. We have to put in the work and people need to learn that, democracy only works if we participate. Let’s hope these next four years motivates a lot of people to participate more in shaping our democracy.
Wow, that must have been so disconcerting to witness as a poll worker in L.A.
I still think that's so cool that you did that volunteer work, I really want to do it next time myself, it sounds very empowering.
How do you become a poll worker btw? Is there a form online or something?
I also believe the majority of people are good (or strive to be good, or want to believe they're good).
I love that you're focusing on how to bridge the divide between Americans. That's both beautiful and exactly what we need.
I very much believe that the vast majority of Americans actually want the same things-- we're just intentionally divided to disempower and confuse us about what we're arguing about.
It's sad, but typical.
I very much want to participate in democracy more. I really want to take action in some sustainable way. Still searching on that front.
Love the George Harrison rec. Will listen today!
Recently I listened to the entire Beatles catalog (of studio albums) starting in chronological order — 13 albums, 230+ songs, eight years — amazing! To my surprise, I love those early albums so much. Please Please Me is just gold.
Ohhhhhhh I would love to do a Beatles deep dive!
I always assumed I knew all their songs, but I think I've missed some of the early songs.
Paul McCartney played "Please Please Me" live somewhere quite recently!
I never knew this was what the song was called btw, haha.
It's weird to listen to this song after not hearing it since I was a kid because I feel like I hear so many of their influences now in a way I didn't have context for in the past.
Like I hear the Chuck Berry and surfer rock.. probably more if I focused harder.
Those pop melodies though. Absolute excellence.
Most of my Beatles listening had been later stuff. So some great discoveries. From that first album alone (Please Please Me), these are some favorite delights:
— Misery
— Anna
— Baby It's You
Omg Misery is so simple, but so lovely. I don't remember ever listening to this!
What a great find, thank you!!
I've been super into finding older media like this recently.
It gives both a sense of familiarity in the music's era/sound, but then it's fresh because you've never heard the song.
Ex: I've been deep diving into Radiohead and Mazzy Star because I was always on the outside with them before, and what a pleasure it's been!